Elevator-signaling system



April 20 1926.'

E. P. BUTUSOV ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM '1919 2 Sheets- Sheet i '9 Patented 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL 1. Burusovfor oIIIcAo, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon or ONE-HALF 'ro DANIEL LEWY, OF CHICAGQ, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR-SIGNALING sYs'rEm.

HEl-SSUED Application filed OctoberlG, 1919. Serial No. 331,114.

.useful Improvement in Elevator-Signaling Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to signaling systems for elevator cars employing signal devices upon and' individual to the different floors that arereached by an-elevator car in its up and down travel. I

Hitherto these signal devices have been controlled by electro-magnetic mechanism, one for each signal device.

In accordance with my present invention I provide electro-magnetic mechanism common to the signal devices, this mechanism operating to bring a circuit controlling switch into circuit closing or other controlling relation successively w1th the' signals and in advance of the arrival of the elevator car at the floors to which the signals are.

individual so that prospective passengers may have ample warning of the approach of an elevator car to his floor.

There is also preferablyprovided a'signal device including electro-magnetic operating mechanism common to all of the floors and having a single displaying element adapted, by being placed in successive positions or conditions that are individual to the floors, to indicate the floor levels as'they are reached by the elevator car. Such a signal device may be located upon the main fioorto be in the presence of an elevator car started and, if desired, there may be a similar device upon each of the other floors, in the car or elsewhere.

I also provide an electromagnetic mechanism pertaining to the signal lamps that may be placed at any convenient point, but preferably I place it at the mid-point of the system, in order to'efiect a great saving in wiring from the pent house to the electromagnetic mec'hanism. So far as I have been able to determine, the placing of this mechanism at the mid-point of the system is entirely new.

My invention is also capable of use in an elevator system employing a plurality of directed by a starter stationed on the lower floor of the building. i

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings iliustrating the preferred embodiment there- 0 Figure 1 illustrates a -Wiring diagram showing the manner in which the various parts of my signaling system are connected electrically, and

Figure 2 is "a sectional elevation of a store, hotel or oflice building having a plurality of floors and shows the preferred method of installing my system with respect to the pent-house and one of the floors opening into the elevator hatchway.

Signal devices which are individual to the floors and are upon the floors, are illustrated at the right of Figure 1, initial signal device 7 being individual to the first floor, signal devices 8 and 9 to the second floor, signal devices 10 and 11 to the third floor, signal devices 12 and 13 to the fourth floor, and

initial signal device 14 to the fifth floor.

These signal devices are preferably inthe form of incandescent lamps, the set of signal devices 7, 8, 10, and 12 displaying light of one color, usually white, to show the floor from which the car is shortly to ascend. The set of signal devices 9, 11, 13 and 14 display light of another color, usually red, to show the -floor from which the car is shortly to descend. For example, when the car, in its descent, nearly reaches the first floor, signal 7 will light to show that the car is shortly to move upward and when the car, in its ascent, nearly reaches the top floor signal 14 will light to show that the car is shortly to descend. The signal toward whose floor the car is moving is displayed an appreciable time before the arrival of the car at that floor.

The'other signal device which is employed to indicate the arrivals of the car at floor levels is shown as including an index or pointer 15 sweeping over the'dial which is marked with the numerical characters or other signs corresponding or individual to the respective floor levels. It is, of course, apparent that if the signal devices 7 to 14 inclusive were not employed that the signal device having the index 15 could be employed upon the difi'erent floors. While I employ an index 15 to operate in conjunction withthesi s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the invention isnot to bEAllIIlltGd to the particular nature of the'element 15 common to the floors and arranged successively to be brought into corelation with the signs individual to the floors.

By means of the preferred mechanism to be. later described the wiper shaft 16 is caused to turn in one direction when the elevator car is ascending and in the reverse direction when the car is descending. A

wiper or contact member 17 is connected in circuit for the ascent of the elevator car and the wiper or contact member 18 is made 15 effective for the descent of the elevator car, 7 either wiper being out of service when 'the other is in service. In this way I am enabled to" employ the single shaft 16 and a single motor mechanism or electro-mag- 2o netic actuated mechanism to turn the shaft 16 in one direction when the wiper 17 is effective and inthe reverse direction when the wiper18 is effective, though it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to 2 the single shaft and the accompanying single motor.

' The wiper 18, when active, moves counterclockwise upon the descent of the car and the wiper 17, when active, .moves clock- 30 wise upon the ascent of the car,- the ,wipers being so positioned upon' the shaft with re spect to each other and their waiting contacts 8", 10', '12, 14 (for wiper 17) and 7, 9, 11', and 13 (for wiper 18) that either 5 wiper is brought to the beginning of its range of movement when the other wiper has reached the end of its range of movement. These waiting contacts constitute terminals of conductors respectively including the signal lamps through which these conductors and contacts are connected with the battery B. Wiper 17 is connected with a contact button 19 and the wiper 18 isconnectedwith a contact button 20.. A master switch 21 is connected with the other side of battery B. This switch is under the control of the car or elevator system, as will appear, and

is brought into engagement with the contact button when the car goesrdown. Said switch is brought into engagement with the contact button 19 when the car goes up. The diagramindicates that the car has nearly reached its lowermost level, the circuits being adjusted to light up-lamp 7 on the bot-- tom fioorto indicatethat the car is near the lower end of its journey and will shortly ascend. The circuit'of the lowermost up lamp.

" 7 includes the down wiper 18 and the circuit of the uppermost down lamp 14 includes the lip-wiper 17. A'motor comprising magnets. 22, 23 and 24 and an armature 25 common to these magnets and in suitable gear connection with the shaft 16 is controlled by the movingcar or the elevator system that operates the car to cause said the master switch 21.

generally similar to the aforesaid motor,

is provided for governing the position of the index 15, this second motor including the magnets 26, 27 and 28 and the armature 29 common to these magnets and in suitable gear connection with the index 15.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed. to enable the elevator car to govern the conditionbf the aforesaid motors and I have diagrammatically indicated a sheave or pulley 30 upon the same shaft with another sheave or pulley 31, the latter supporting a cable 32 upon which the elevator car 33 is suspended and the weight of which, in conjunction with the weight of the car, is offset by the counter-weight 34. Other elevator operating mechanism may be employed, it is understood. The belt 35, or other motion transmitting mechanism, is driven by the sheave 30 and drives the sheave 36 which is coaxial with a. ring dividedup into metallic segments 37, 38 and 39 successively engaging brushes 39, 39 connected with the terminals of a bat tery B. Three continuous metallic rings 40, 41 and 42 turn with the ring 37 38 and39. Brushes 43, 44 and 45- respectively engage the rings 40, 41 and 42. These rings 40, 41 and 42' are so connected with the magnets of each motor having the armatures 25 and 29 and with segments of the ring 37, 38 and 39 that two adjacent magnets of each motor are at a time energized, the unenergized magnet subsequently being energized and the magnet ahead of it, in the direction of rotation of the corresponding armature, then being deenergized whereby armature rotation is effected. Means are desirably provided for opposing the sparking between the trailing ends of the ring segments 37 38 and39 and the brushes 39, 39 The means shown includes spark choking resistances 37 38 and 39 respectively connected each at one end with the contact segments 37, 38 and 39 and respectively individual to the pairs of minor contact segments 37 37 38 38 and 39 39*, each such resistance having its remaining terminal connected with the pair of minor contact segments to which it is individual. The brush tips are broad enough to bridge the gaps between the majorand minor segments, the circuit through each major segment thus momentarily persisting through the corresponding resistance before the cir- 125 is shown in the form-of an oscillating switch having a cam cavity 46 receiving the operating end of-a cam arm 47 controlled by Geneva gearing 48 Operated by the elevator car in one direction or the other (this gearing having an element upon the same shaft with the sheave 36) to swing the arm 47 correspondingly and thereby cause the switch 21 to be oscillated into engagement with one or the other'of the contacts 19,20 and out of engagement with .the remainingone of these contacts, thechange in engagement occurrin as the car changes its direction.

The mechanism is shown as about to be g adjusted to effect clockwise movement of the shaft 16 to'which end the magnets 22,

23 and 24 are energized in the order in which they are enumerated and in the order in which the signals 7, 8,10, 12 and 14 are to be'lighted. When the signals 14, 13, 11

'and 9 are to be lighted upon downward movement of the car the wipers 17 and 18' have come into contact with their waiting contacts 14, 13' whereafter these wipers are given counter-clockwise movement upon the energization of the latter magnets in retery verse order to their enumeration. i Prior to this counterclockwise movement the switch 21 is in engagement with contact 19 and the lip-wiper 17 is in engagement with" the waiting contact 14 to include the down siinal 14 on the top floor in circuit with the atscent of the car to the fourth floor the switch 21 is engaged with the contact 20 and separated from the contact 19. to make the upwiper 17 ineflective and the down-wiper 18' effective during their counter-clockwise movement. When the car is reaching'its lowermost position the downwiper 18 includes the up-si nal 7 in circuit with the battery B and w en the car is ascending or preparatory to its ascentthe switch 21 is shifted by the Geneva gearin 48 to bring the up-wiper 17 into circuit w ere after the shaft 16 moves clockwise successively to display the signals 8, 10 and 12, by including them in circuit with the battery B, as the car ascends. The shifting of the switch 21, when making the up-wiper 17 effective, during its clockwise movement, makes the down-wiper 18 ineffective.

B. Sufliciently in advance of the dey 27 ,and26 in series,these latter two magnets being together in parallel with the magnets 23 and 22,'the brush 45, .the ring 42, the

contact segment 38, the brush 39 to the battery B. At this time circuit through the magnets 24 and 28 is open at the segment 39. When the brush 39 is engaged by the segment 38, circuit is established which is traceable from the battery B, through the brush 39, the segment 38, the contact ring '42, the brush 45, the magnets 22 and 24 in series, the magnets 26 and 28 in series, these latter two magnets being toether in parallel with the magnets 22 and 24,'the brush 43, the ring 40, the contact segment 39, the brush 39 to the battery B. At this timecircuit through magnets 23 and 27 is open at the'segment 37. When the brush 39 is en aged by the segment 39,-circuit is establis ed which is traceable from the battery B, through the brush 39, the segment 39, the contact ring 40, the

brush 43, the'magnets 24 and 22 in series,

the magnets 28 and 26 in series, these" latter two magnetsbeing together parallel with the magnets 24 and 22, the brush 45, the ring 42, the contact segment 38, the brush 39 to the battery B. At this time circuit through magnets 22 and 26 i open at the segment 38. The shaft 16 wil thus turn clockwise. If the ring 37, 38 and 39 is turning clockwise it will be apparent that the shaft 16 will be turning counter-clockwise. J

The system of my invention enables the location of the electro-magnetic mechanism ertaining to the signal lam s upon the diferent floors at a mid-point 1n the hatchway, thereby greatly simplifying the wiring and reducing the expense thereof. Regardless of the number of floors in the building, there willbe but one electromagnetic switchin" mechanism for each elevator in service an by placing this on a floor inidway of the hatchway in a'cabinet, it will be obvious that 'a great saving in wiring is accomplished. Since there are but three coils or magnets, 22, 23 ,and 24, three wires only will be necessary in wiring from .the caroperated commutator to the motor. I prefer to call this a central relay system since all of the signals are operated from one point midway of the hatchway.

Referring to Figure 2, F F F F and F represent the various floors in a five story building to be served' by the car 33; The car-operated switch 21 and the commutator rings are mounted in the pent-house P at the top of the hatchway. The electromagnetic switching mechanism is situated on the third floor (F midway'of the hatchway. The wires 43', '44 and 45 are .dropped down the-hatchway to the motor on the third floor and are connected to the commutator in the pent-house. Therefore there is at least'a saving of 50% -in the wiring and since there are but three lcoils 22, 23

" either from the well to the top-most floor' and 24:, no matter how tall the building may be, there will be but three feeding wires running for one half of the length of the hatchway. Twovmore wires 19 and 20 will 'r'un'from the master switch21 to the Wip- '-ers}l7 and 1,8. In rior installations, all 'ofthe wires fpreac elevator system run or i from the pent-house to the lower-most floor. This system not only saves a great amount of wiring, but What wiring there is is relatively simple. Also, by placing the motor cabinet on one floor, a maintenance man can go to that one place and tell at a glance just how the system is operating. It will be unnecessary for him to carry outhis work from floor to floor. 1 VVh'ile I have. herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following v 1. An elevator signaling system for an elevator system including a shaft and a car operating between a plurality of floors, a signal at each floor, a circuit for each signal extending to substantially the mid-point of said shaft, means mounted at substantially the mid-point of said shaft for selecting any one of said circuits, electromagnetic means for operating said selecting means, and

means mechanically operated by and in ac-' cordance with the movement of said car in stud/shaft for operating said electromagnetic meansv to select the signal corresponding to;

the position of said car in said shaft.

2. An velevator signaling system for an elevator system including a shaft and a car operating bet-ween a plurality of floors, a signal at each floor, a circuit for each signal extending to substantially the mid-point of said shaft, a single switching mechanism having contacts individual to the circuits of said signals and a contact member complemental to these contacts, said switching i no mechanism being mounted at substantially the mid-point of said shaft for selecting any one of said circuits, electromagnetic means for operating said switching mechanism; and means mechanically operated by and in accordance with the movement of said car in said shaft "for operating said electromagnetic means to select the signal corresponding to the position of said can in said shaft. I p 3. An elevator signaling system for an elevator system including a shaft and a car operating between a plurality of floors, an

cuits, electromagnetic means for operating said switching mechanism, means mechanically operated by andin accordance with the movement of said car in said shaft for operating said electromagnetic means to select the signal corresponding to the position of said car in said shaft, and mechanism operable by the elevator system and operating to alternatel permit of effective operation of but one o said contact members at a time.

4; An elevator signaling systeln for anelevator system including a shaft and a car operating between'a plurality of floors, an lip-signal and zf down-signal at each floor, a circuit for each signal extending-to substantially the mid-point of said shaft, a single switching mechanism having contacts individual to the circuits of said up-signalsand said clown-signals and including a pair of contact members complemental to these contacts said switching mechanism being mounted at substantially the mid-point of said shaft for selecting any one of said circuits, electromagnetic means for operating said switching mechanism, means mechanically operated by and in accordance with the movement of said car in said shaft for operating said electromagnetic means to select the signal corresponding to the position of said car in said shaft, and a masterswitch operable by the elevator system and oper ating to alternately permit of effective operation of but one of said contact members at a time.

5. An elevator signaling system-for an elevator system including a shaft and a car operating between a plurality of floors, an up-signal anda down-signal at each floor, a c1rcu1t for each signal extending to sub stantially the mid-point of said shaft, contacts in the signaling circuits, a contact structure complemental to said contacts and mounted at substantially the mid-point of said shaft, electromagnetic mechanism for operating said contact structure, means mechanically operated by and in accordance with the movement of said car in said shaft foriopcrating said electromagnetic mechanisin :and mechanism operable by the elevato .tem and operating alternately to ish: cooperatige -relation between the ructure aifdthe up-signals and the ructure and the down-signals. 6.'An elevator signaling system for an elevatorsystem including a shaft and a car operating between a plurality of floors; a commutating device comprising a ring of at least three segments and brushes bearing upon said ring; mechanism whereby said ring is turned by the elevator system; conducting rings connected with and respectively individual to said ring segments; brushes upon said rings; magnets respectively individual to' said brushes and included in circuit therewith and successively in circuit with said ring segments a member having a wiper thereon, said magnets constituting a motor that is in driving rela tion to said member; signal devices individual to the floors served by the elevator system and included in circuits extending to substantially the mid-point of said shaft and having contacts individual to said signal devices and a circuit portion common to the circuits of the signal devices and terminating in said wiper; the contacts respectively individual to said signal devices being successively engaged by said wiper.

7. An elevator signaling system for an elevator system including a shaft and a car operating between a plurality of floors, a plurality of signals to be actuated in accordance with the movements of said car in said shaft, a circuit for each signal, means for selecting any one of said circuits, electromagnetic means for operating said selecting means, and means mechanically operated by and in accordance with the movement 'of said car in said shaft for operating said electromagnetic means to select the signal corresponding to the position of said car in said shaft.

8. An elevator signaling system for an elevator system including a plurality of shafts and a car in each of said shafts operating between a plurality of floors, a plurality of signals to be actuated in accord ance with the movements of said carsin said shafts, a circuit for each signal extending to a centralized point in said system, means for selecting any one of said circuits, electromagnetic means for operating said selecting means, and means mechanically operated by and in accordance with the movements of said cars in said shafts for operating said electromagnetic means to select the signals corresponding to the position of said cars in said shafts.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this tenth day of October, A. D.

EMIL P. BUTUSOV. 

